Tore

EPILOGUE

Leigh

The sun was setting over the backyard, painting the sky in hues of gold and lavender. The party was in full swing, a celebration of Kaine's and Noa's shared birthday. Laughter and conversation floated through the air, mingling with the happy shrieks of children darting across the lawn.

I stood by the table, arranging some last-minute touches to the dessert display, stealing glances at Kaine as he held Noa in his arms.

He looked different these days—older, wearier. The weight of everything we'd been through had left its mark on him, in the faint lines around his eyes and the occasional faraway look on his face. But in this moment, as Noa tugged at his tie with a giggle, he looked happy. Truly happy.

For the first time in a long while, I allowed myself to relax. Maybe we could really do this—build something real from the wreckage of what we'd been through.

"Leigh," Krissy's voice pulled me from my thoughts. She was holding a large, beautifully wrapped gift in her hands, her expression puzzled. "This one doesn't have a name on it, just a note. It says, 'You tore my family apart.'"

The words sent a chill down my spine, and I felt my stomach twist uncomfortably. I forced a smile, taking the box from her and setting it on the table with the rest of the gifts.

"Probably someone trying to be dramatic," I said lightly, though my heart was pounding. "Let's not let it ruin the party."

Krissy nodded, though she didn't look convinced.

I glanced over at Kaine, who was now talking to a small group of friends. Noa was balanced on his hip, babbling away, and I couldn't help but smile.

Whatever was in that box could wait. Right now, this moment was about them.

It's their birthday. My baby is turning 1.

March 29th, the day the two most important men in my life were born.

As the evening wore on, the mystery gift lingered in the back of my mind. When the cake was brought out, and everyone sang "Happy Birthday," I found myself watching Kaine more than anything else.

The way his eyes softened when he looked at Noa, the way he smiled when Noa smashed a handful of frosting onto his face—it all reminded me of why I'd fallen for him in the first place.

Our marriage had started as a calculated move, a way to outmaneuver Nico and his threats. But somewhere along the way, it had become something more. Even after everything,

I still felt that pull toward Kaine, that deep connection that refused to fade.

Later, after most of the guests had left and the house was quiet again, I sat with Kaine at the kitchen table. Noa was asleep upstairs, and the leftover party decorations swayed gently in the evening breeze coming through the open window.

Kaine slid a glass of wine toward me, his gaze steady. "You were quiet tonight," he said.

I shrugged, tracing the rim of the glass with my finger. "Just thinking."

"About the gift?" he asked, his tone darkening slightly.

"Partly," I admitted. "But mostly about us."

Kaine leaned back in his chair, watching me carefully. "And what are you thinking?"

I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "That I want to try. Really try, Kaine. For Noa, yes, but also for us. I don't want this marriage to just be a contract anymore."

His expression softened, and for a moment, he looked like the man I'd fallen in love with all those years ago. "Neither do I," he said quietly.

We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of unspoken promises hanging between us.